Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting be approved as a correct record.  However, the minutes had noted that the Economic Development and Regeneration Manager had undertaken to circulate details of the Economic Regeneration Team, but that this had not happened.  It was agreed that he would be reminded of the need to do so.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relating to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

Ms Bernadette Burgon, an allotment holder at Maple Avenue allotment site, used public speaking time to raise the issue of Cheshire East Council allotments, and the difficulties faced in securing tenants for vacant plots.  Ms Burgon said that Cheshire West and Chester Council was working to form a federation of allotment holders, and had secured assistance from the National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners.

It was agreed that the information presented by Ms Burgon should be brought to the attention of the officers of the Council who manage its allotments.

Mark Averill, Service Leader, Cheshire East Highways, reported to the Committee upon street lighting arrangements in the Borough, including the various approaches adopted to reduce carbon usage.

Discussion took place and Mr Averill agreed to circulate to members of the Committee a recent press article which had a bearing on issues relating to crime, together with a map of lighting arrangements in each Member’s area.

Mr Averill was thanked for his presentation and it was agreed that the press article and lighting maps would be circulated as suggested.

Rob McGarry and John Leach from the Markets Service reported to the Committee upon market provision and arrangements within the Borough.  They circulated budgetary information and a “Macclesfield Market-Positioning Statement 2013”.

Discussion took place.

Agreed: that market arrangements in Macclesfield should form a major item for discussion on the Committee’s Work Plan.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Governance and Democratic Services which set out potential areas of work which might be appropriate for consideration at future meetings of the Committee.

The report invited the Committee to consider whether the work areas referred to in the report correctly represented those which it wished to pursue, and then to prioritise them.

RESOLVED

That the next meeting of the Committee should consider the following items as a priority:

b.    Presentation on markets: this will address the following issues (ensuring that papers relating to the subject-matter are issued with the agenda):

                                          i.    How arrangements worked, and what issues arose, in respect of markets at Alsager, Sandbach and Nantwich;

                                        ii.    Budgetary matters (with finance officers in attendance);

                                       iii.    How the Macclesfield market might be promoted;

                                       iv.    How the market in the Grosvernor Centre operates and is managed.